When
will human consciousness finally reach the point where we
no longer choose to live in peace only as a consequence
of avoiding pain and suffering? This article deals with
the responsibility of each individual to speak and act in
such a way that leaders can no longer avoid making the well-being
and respect of everyone the highest priority of all governments.

In
the Middle East there is a legendary teacher named "Mullah
Nasruddin." His methods of teaching were often strange and
shocking. Thus people continually debated whether he was wise
or a fool. One day the Mullah went to the center of the town square
that was crowded with people from all around for the weekly market.
In the center of the square stood a large tree which had been
standing for generations. Nasruddin, a saw in hand, started climbing.
Choosing a large sprawling branch, he sat straddling it out towards
the end. He then started sawing the branch between him and the
trunk. Quickly a large crowd gathered and started shouting. "Mullah,
Mullah Nasruddin! Come down! You fool, can't you see that you
are cutting the branch on which you are sitting? You will kill
yourself!" The Mullah continued to saw, ignoring the warnings
from the crowd until, at last, he fell to the ground in a tangle
of branches. He got up slightly dazed, and answered the shouting
and scolding crowd: "I was simply doing what I see you all
doing every day in your life!"

It
is time to wake up, and to wake up others, to the fact that we
are cutting ourselves off from our source of life. This source
is our common humanity and the well-being of our planet. An "awakening"
is a change of consciousness. It is a change from living from
one harsh and painful lesson to another, learning through suffering.
It is the change from living ignorantly and selfishly to living
intelligently and cooperatively.

The
sign of a changed consciousness is working for goals based on
a vision for a better future. People cannot continue living divided
into "the powerful" and "the powerless," tormenting
themselves and others needlessly. A changed consciousness will
promote basic human values and human rights for all. A changed
consciousness will constantly advocate the possibility of world
peace even amidst today's clouds of hatred. A changed consciousness
will stand for the "common good" seeing that it is the
utmost protection of individual rights.

In
the midst of the conflicts, cruelty and fear that dominate the
daily news, there are so many people throughout the world working
for peace, tolerance, and understanding. There are many people
who strongly believe that human beings are essentially good but
lack the proper leadership to bring out that goodness. Are all
these people who believe in a peaceful and prosperous future wise,
or are they fools?

If
one believes, as we do, that they are wise, and that human nature
is good, then it is time for good people to stand up for humanity.
Standing up for humanity, in our view, means working in one's
daily environment to celebrate the diversity and oneness of the
human race. All human creations throughout history that were beautiful
and unifying were expressions of the human spirit. All inhumanity,
fanaticism, and greed were not products of the human heart.
Discord and enmity are ruinous, and those who justify shameful
deeds for whatever reason, are enemies of humanity. This must
be said, and demonstrated daily by words and acts of tolerance,
compassion and peace.

Good
people must not permit enemies of humanity to remain in positions
of power. Ultimately, human beings are responsible for who they
choose or let lead them. Humanity has remained like the foolish
Mullah Nasruddin, cutting off the branch upon which we are sitting,
with no vision and no foresight. Now we must demonstrate that
we have learned the wise Mullah's lesson.

Archives
2003: Vol.
2, Numbers 1-12Read
past articles including:Series on Leadership
continued
Avoiding Dictatorship in a Free SocietyArt and Politics
Living the Good
LifeTeaching Teens
World Peace
in Less Than a Month?